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Buffs QB Sefo Liufau threw for a touchdown and ran for one in Saturday's win over Utah.
Photo by: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

CU Offense Delivers Scoring Drives When Most Needed

November 27, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk

BOULDER — It was by no means the best performance of the season for the Colorado offense, but when push came to shove, the Buffs offense did what was necessary in Saturday's 27-22 win over Utah.

Most importantly, they had an answer for the Utes every time Utah threatened to take charge.

When Utah took a 7-0 lead on a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, the ninth-ranked Buffs came back with a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive, capped by a 2-yard run from quarterback Sefo Liufau.

When the Utes came back to tie the game at 13-13 in the third quarter, the offense answered again with another long drive, going 75 yards in eight plays, with Liufau throwing 6 yards to Shay Fields for the go-ahead touchdown.

There were no doubt some miscues. The Buffs had to settle for a pair of field goals in the first half after reaching inside the Utah 10-yard line twice. Once, Liufau missed an open Devin Ross in the end zone; another time a low pass to an open George Frazier hit the ground.

"Offensively we were hot and cold," Liufau said. "It just came down to one-and-one matchups, but shout out to our defense. It was really big all game."

Liufau finished with 270 yards passing and a touchdown on his 23-for-44 night, and he rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown pass to Fields was the 60th of his career, tying him for the all-time CU record, but he also had two fumbles.

His second fumble led to a Utah field goal that tied the game at 13-13.

"To fumble like that is really frustrating," Liufau said. "It was really important to go back down there and make some big plays and score some points. Our defense had been doing a lot during the game and I didn't want to keep putting them back on the field."

Liufau's favorite target of the night was junior Devin Ross, who hauled in nine passes for 94 yards, including a 42-yarder that put the Buffs in position for their first touchdown of the night. On the Buffs' second long drive, Liufau had a 37-yard completion to Jay MacIntyre down the left sidelines to put the Buffs at the Utah 9-yard line.

"The sideline was emotional, especially for me because I dedicated this game to my grandma, who passed away this week," Ross said. "I also dedicated it to the seniors. It was unreal, a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

BUFFALO HEART WINNER: Liufau was awarded the "Buffalo Heart Award" Saturday after the game, an honor presented annually by a group of fans. Liufau called the award a "great honor," and added, "I couldn't have done it without my teammates pushing me and getting me through those years."

WHITTINGHAM PRAISES BUFFS: Saturday's game was the sixth meeting between the two teams since they both entered the Pac-12 in 2011, and the sixth game that was decided by seven points or less.

"They do it the right way, they're well coached," Whittingham said. "Their players act the way they're supposed to act. That's very impressive, how they act and carry themselves and conduct themselves on the field."

SERIES NOTES: Colorado now leads the all-time series 32-28-3 and Saturday's win ended a four-game losing streak to the Utes.

It was also Mike MacIntyre's first win with the Buffs over Utah, adding to his streak this year. As CU's head coach MacIntyre earned his first win this year over Oregon, Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Washington State and Utah — seven of CU's eight Pac-12 wins this season.

FIRST POSSESSION PERFECTION: CU's defense has held the opponent scoreless on its first possession in all 12 games this year. The Buffs also held Utah to just 6-for-21 on third-down conversions.

RANKED FOES: CU has now defeated two ranked teams in back to back weeks for the first time since 2002. The Buffs are now 4-1 as a ranked team this year.

TITLE GAME INFORMATION: The Buffs will be the visiting team in next Friday's Pac-12 championship game against Washington. Scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. at Levi's Stadium, the game will be televised by Fox.

 

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu